AboutPhilip Lafeber Expertise Please ask me anything related to Japanese business culture. I can also answer some questions about social culture in general. Questions about the language I can only answer up to a very basic degree.
Experience I have worked for a Japanese company for 6 years and taught myself how to work with the Japanese and also some of the Japanese language. I am also married to a Japanese, which is why I have also learnt about Japanese in private life.
Education/Credentials None. All based on experience.
Question Hi, i need some assistance with a Japanese cultural belief. Could you please provide me with an explanation of a cultural belief regarding the number 4 in Japan and how it affects someone, i need moire detailed info than just saying it is unlucky number). Thank you in advance for your help.
--
Answer Hello Veronika,
The number 4 is not an unlucky number. There is just the following coincidence:
Every word has a pronunciation. It just so happens that the character for "4" and the character for "death" have the same pronunciation, which is "shi". That is why 4 is said to be an unlucky number. There is another pronunciation for 4, which is "yon". So if you right 4 and say "yon", there is no association with death.
